er 271).
The early career of the Medici family was similar to other Florentine families. When they migrated to flourishing Florence in the 12th Century, they took up money-changing and money-lending, and by 1300, ôhaving also multiplied in household numbers, they had made a name for themselves as aggressive æcommonersÆö (Martines 37). They also gained a reputation for lawlessness. The first Medici to gain financial power in Florence was Giovanni di Bicci deÆ Medici (1360-1429) in the 14th Century. Following in the footsteps of his uncle Vieri who founded a bank in Rome, Giovanni founded his own bank in Florence, reaching a higher level of success than his uncle because he handled the accounts of the Roman Catholic Popes (Cronin 59). Giovanni di BiccaÆs efforts carried him to the top of the scale of wealth in Florence at a time when the city-state was the financial capital of Western Europe and home to more than 70 international bankers (Martines 38). In the 1420s, the first decade of Medicean power, taxes and political unrest increased due to war with Milan. A group of successful commoners formed around Giovanni deÆ Medici and his son Cosimo, ôwhose wealth and know-how behind the scenes also attracted men from the distinguished families. No class lines were easily visibleö (Martines 41).
When Giovanni di Bicca died in 1429, he left his wealth to his eldest son Cosimo. In the early years of the Medici dynasty, three men were notable in terms of their contributions to the development of Medici wealth and influence. These were Cosimo deÆMedici in the early 15th Century, Lorenzo DeÆ Medici in the later 15th Century, and LorenzoÆs son Giovanni DeÆ Medici who became Pope Leo X in the early 16th Century.
As the eldest son, Cosimo il Vecchio (the elder or first Cosimo) inherited his father GiovanniÆs bank and became FlorenceÆs richest man. Fourteen years before he inherited his fatherÆs bank at the age of 40, Cosimo...